Valved connection for demountable structures



April 3950 T w. L. MORRISON 2,502,630

VALVED CONNECTION FOR DEMOUNTABLE STRUCTURES Filed Jul) 20, 1946 4Sheets-Sheet 1 fnv nz'o'rqizaz-dz L. Morn? srz/ 39510 w. L, MQRRISQN pfi VALVE!) CONNECTION FOR DEMOUNTABLE STRUCTURES Filed July-20, 194ssheets-sheet s [nvenlor i Z.%rriww Apzeifi Z5 w. L, MGRRESQN 2,

VALVED CONNECTION FOR DEMOUNTABLE STRUCTURES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July20, 1946 Patented Apr. 4, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVEDCONNECTION FOR DEMOUNTABLE STRUCTURES 1 Claim.

My invention relates to an improvement in connecting means forrefrigerator members.

One purpose is to provide an improved means for connecting evaporatorsections of a demountable or demounted refrigerator.

Another purpose is to provide valves and connections for use on arefrigerating machine adapted to be assembled in the space or room whereit is to be used.

Another purpose is to provide an efficient and inexpensive connectingvalve.

Another purpose is to make a connecting valve which is so constructedthat an amateur can assemble it with a minimum of instructions.

Another purpose is to make a form of valve which is inherently free fromthe possibility of leakage, either before or after the assembling of thecomponent units.

Another purpose is to make a valve which can be reclosed for thedisassembly, removal and reassembly of the parts to which the valves areattached.

The present application is an improvement on the structure of mycopending application Serial No. 646,588 filed in the United StatesPatent Office on February 9, 1946.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of thespecifications and claim.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is an axial section, illustrating the connector in closedposition but with the two components of the connector assembled;

Figure 2 is a similar view, but illustrating the two components of theconnection in disassembled condition;

Figure 3 is a section, illustrating two adjacent refrigerator orevaporator elements, but illustrating the assembled connection in planview;

Figure 4 is a plan view, illustrating the individual components of theconnection in the disassembled condition corresponding to that of Figure2; and

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the parts as shown in Figure 3.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specificationand drawings.

Referring to the drawings, it will be understood that my connection maybe employed between the evaporator components of adjacent refrigeratoror insulating housing sections of a demountable or assemblablerefrigerator, such as is shown in greater detail in my copendingapplication Serial No. 646,588. It will be underrounding the nipple l8.

stood that any suitable number of evaporator components may be employed,but in the present drawings I illustrate only two abutting compo nentsand the connection between them.

Referring, for example, to Figure l, I illustrate a. connector includingan element generally indicated at A, which may be associated with therefrigerator component C of Figure 3, and a second connector componentB, which may be associated with the refrigerator component D of Figure3. I illustrate, for example, headed piston valves l and la, each ofwhich is shown as having an inclined seat engaging portion 2 or 2a. .Thevalves may be urged against their opposed seats in the surrounding valvehousings 9 and 9a by locking screws 3, 3a, screw threaded into elements6, 6a, which, in turn, are associated with outer housings 8 and 8a, andabut against thrust blocks '1, la, operating against flexible diaphragms5, 511. As will be clear from Figure 1, when the screws 3 and 3a are inthe locking position, the valves l and la are urged, against thecompression of the springs 3, to, into locking position. This is theinitial condition of the parts when they are in the separated positionin which they are shown in Figures 2 and 4. Assuming that the user hassecured together the adjacent refrigerator sections C and D, forexample, by any suitable angle members ill. The component A is securedto the evaporator of the refrigerator component C by a flexible passageor duct l6, suitably secured to the outer valve housing 9, and incommunication with the interior passage 2!). It may be surrounded by anysuitable securing loop or bracket 26, secured to the angle IQ, forexample, by the screws 2!. The opposite component B is shown as securedto the refrigerator component D by any suitable duct [ta which, as shownin Figures 2 and 3, extends to and is secured to the valve housing 9a,and communicates, by the passage Ella, with its interior. Initially, thecomponent A is closed by the removable cap l8, screw threaded as at l5,and provided with any suitable washer ll, sur- Similarly the component Bis closed by the screw M, with its head ll, the screw I4 meshing withthe internal thread of the sleeve l3 which surrounds the valve housing9a. The sleeve I3 is provided with an intermediate portion of increasedinternal diameter against which seats the locking ring l2. Any suitablewasher Ha may be employed. The operator removes the closures l7 and I8.He may then thread the sleeve l3 about the exterior threads of theopposite valve housing 9. The

result is to draw the parts together, as shown in Figure 1, against andabout the washer II. Preferably the washer Ila is also left in place andthe result is the effectively greater washer shown in Figure 1 at II.When the two components have thus been connected, the operator can thenrelease the socket screws 3 and 3a. As he does so, the springs 4 and 4awill move the valve plungers' I and: la from the closed position inwhich'they-are shown in Figure 1 to a suitable open position. Thevolatile refrigerant can then flow through the passages I6, 25, Isa and20a, and through the space/about the valve pistons. Preferably the valveseats opposed to the valve pistons I and Ia are of softer material thanthe valves themselves, permitting an efiective locking action. When thesocket screws 3 and 3c are released, the diaphragms 5 and 5a are flexedas far as the screws will permit them to go, or until the blocks 7 andla contact the outer wall of the diaphragm housing. "The washers Ii andHa may be ofsany suitable resilient ordeformable material. The'ring I2,is'preferably acresilient split ring. It will;be"understood'that theparts :may be changed, with-the connecting mem- .The socket screws31and- 311 preferably are Sllfilciently tightened to: provide a firmcontact between thevalves IandIa-and the opposed, softer valve seat. benecessaryboth to loosen the, members it and In order'towcause'any lossit would IT, and the socket screws 3 or 3a.

The details ofzsecuring the components of the connecting meanstogetherrcan be widely variant.

However, I find itconveriientto employ the ar rangement as shown inFigure. 3. In Figures 3, 4 and 5 I show-the :connectionattached to thetwo adjacent refrigeratorcomponents. The component'A of the valve isshown as connected by a bentduct portion I6 to the refrigerator com-,ponent C, to which .the'angle-IQ is secured. The duct I6 may beheldloosely by the bracket 26.

The B component of the-connection may be secured to theweirigeratorcomponent D, for ex- When the refrigerator components C andD are;sec.ured together by one ample by nuts22 and 23.

or more of the--angles.'I9,-then the connector components A andiiBcanreadily be :iitted. together. :bracket 26, which: renders it: easy toremove the Preferably thereiis a loose fit with the closure membersI'I:and I8 and to screw the securing sleeve or nut I 3 into the'positionin which it is shownrin 'Figure 1, with adequate compression of thewasher- I I.

It will be realized that-whereas I have described and :shown a practicaland operative device,

nevertheless many changes in size, shape,'numher and disposition'ofn-parts may be made without departing from the spirit'and contentofmy invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings'to be taken.as in-a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than aslimiting me to my specific showing herein.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

This invention may be considered in conjunction with my copendingapplication Serial No. 646,588.

Since it is the intent of that application to disclose a type ofstructure that can be assembled by one unskilled in the refrigerationart, it is evident that the means of making the refrigerationconnections between the various members must be of such a design andconstruction that the uninitiated can follow a few simple directions andeffect the connections without dan- 1geryof making them imperfectly sothat they will leak, or of performing the operations incompletely soas'to cause restrictions in the flow of the refrigerants.

When the members of the refrigeration apparatus assembly are to beplaced together the instructions will be to make sure that the screws 3and 3a are firmly tightened before temporary sealing members I! and I8are removed. The parts are then assembled in such a manner that thetubular member 5!! bearing the sealing washer II will enter into thetubular member iilaand the internal threads l of the nut IS willengageeasily with externalthreads I5 of body member 9. Because of the completeenclosure ofsealing washer l I a relatively light engagement of thesethreaded parts M and I5 will effectively prevent any leakage past thesealing member I I. The screws 3 and 3:: can be completely removed andthe pressure of springs 4 and 5a will open the valves and therebyconnect the refrigeration cavities 20 and 29a of the parts together.

I claim:

In combination, a pair of sleeves each closed at one end, open at theother, each having a valveseat adjacent its open end, a plug valve ineach sleeve longitudinally movable between the closed end and the valveseat, yielding means tending to unseat the valve, a gas-tight dia phragmassociated with the opposed end of the valve and forming a portion ofthe closure of the valve sleeve, adjustable means outside the diaphragmfor overcoming the yielding means to seat the valve, pipes extendinglaterally one from each sleeve, each threaded for connection to a gasline, a coupling enclosing the opposed open ends of both sleeves,packing means between the sleeves, the coupling being rotatably mountedon one sleeve and threaded on the other whereby the coupling maycompress the packing and hold the two sleeves in alignment.

WILLARD L. MORRISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 170,305 Sampson Nov, 23, 18751,747,359 Gibson Feb. 18, 1930 2,125,554 Franck Aug. 2, 1938 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 774,961 France Dec. 17, 1934

